Volker denies Hara, Stocker Champion
Once again the A Mains produced thrilling action with Ronald Volker putting in a superb performance to take Leg 2 victory denying team-mate Atsushi Hara an early overall victory. In Pro Stock we again had a terrific battle between Alexander Stocker and Meik Niemann but in the end Stocker won to become the inaugural Euro Touring Series Champion.
Modified was a great display of world class driving by Hara and Volker as the Hot Bodies pairing raced side by side for the entire race. Starting from pole Hara lead away but Volker was right with him showing his challenge in Leg 1 was a sign of things to come. With Hara on old tyres and Volker on a fresh set of Sweeps the latters car looked better allowing him to pressure the former World Champion. A touch on the main straight at the mid point of the race failed to seperate the two but then with a minute and a half to go Hara caught a kerb at the end of the straight flipping his car which landed rubber side up and in the right direction but Volker was through. The LRP team driver held the position to force the result of Round 4 of the ETS to go to the 3rd and final Leg.
‘New tyres gave me the edge for sure and my car was better than Atsushi’s’, a very pleased Volker said after the race. ‘I’m going to try for another win but I wont be too unhappy finishing second to Hara. He’s going to have an edge over me because he has new tyres for the Leg.’ Hara was quick to point out his poor decision but appears confident for Leg 3, ‘I made a mistake running old tyres but I have new ones for the next run so no problem.’
Completing the Top 3 in the Leg was Tamiya’s Jilles Groskamp who came out top of a close battle with Paul Lemieux and Viktor Wilck. The Dutch driver, the first ever Euro Touring Series Champion, is determined to repeat that result in Leg 3 and be on the podium here in Germany but admitted it would be tough starting from 8th on the grid.
In Pro Stock we also witnessed great driving and sportsmanship as Stocker and Niemann renewed their Leg 1 battle. Stocker initially set the pace up front but at 3 minutes Niemann was on his case. Pushing hard the Top Qualifier lost the rear end coming out of the tricky chicane allowing the No.2 car to nip through but the pair made contact at the next corner. In a great sporting gesture Stocker waited on the Xray driver letting him back through and they resumed the hot battle. With a minute to Niemann clipped a curb allowing Stocker to make the pass for the win. With two wins the Hot Bodies driver secured the overall Andernach win to become the 2007/2008 Pro Stock Champion of the Much More backed ETS.
A Main Leg 2
Modified
1. Ronald Völker – HB/LRP/LRP/LRP – 17L 5m 13.73
2. Atsushi Hara – HB/Nosram/Orion/Orion – + 0.35
3. Jilles Groskamp – Tamiya/Nosram/SMC/Speed Passion – + 4.12
A Main Leg 2
Pro Stock
1. Alexander Stocker – HB/LRP/LRP/Speed Passion – 16L 5m 13.84
2. Meik Niemann – Xray/LRP/Speed Passion – + 0.75
3. Dominik Reschke – Corally/GM/GM/Speed Passion – + 1.36
Videos of all A-mains to be online later in the day. Check out our image gallery here.
